Why We Should Stand With The One Percent

For almost 4 years now, since the inauguration of President Barack Obama, we have been hearing a seemingly never-ending attack on rich people in our country. And, for those of us who believe in a free-market economy, free of incessant Government interference, we completely understand that money in the hands of private citizens, used for their own economic purposes, whether it is in the production, or consumption, of goods and services, builds far more value, and economic growth, then in the hands of Government, where wealth is consumed, destroyed, and mostly thrown down a rat-hole. We also understand that rich people, unless their money is sitting in a safe, or under a mattress, put their money to use in some productive manner, which will, inevitably, create more goods, services, jobs, and economic opportunities.

We often hear from the current class of Democrats, and those on the far-left, that rich people are not paying their (so-called) fair share; but, for the objective observer, that notion has been put to rest, many times over, as it is common knowledge that rich people, by far, and by virtue of amount, pay the most taxes in this country; which is used to fund our Government(s), social programs etc. But, even in light of these facts, the rich, to some, are still not handing enough of their money over to Government!

Many of us on the right are often accused of standing up for the rich, and big business, at the expense of so-called working people; as if we, on the right, are not also working people! But, regardless of the rhetoric from the left, I believe that we do a pretty good job at explaining the economic virtues of why money in the private (productive) sector is of far more value then handing more of it over to The Government. This, however, goes well beyond economic policy. This goes right to the heart of Individual Liberties! Since the days of FDR and The New Deal policies; or perhaps since the inception of The Federal Income Tax (1913), our Federal Government has largely led our citizenry to believe that Government, by virtue of their confiscatory powers, has first rights over our earnings. That is a notion that I, and millions of other citizens, adamantly reject! The money that a person earns, is, in fact, an extension of their property. Without money, we can not acquire, maintain, or build on our property – and therefore, the two are inseparable. And, isn’t it ironic how we hear so many voices in these unions, preaching constantly about worker’s rights? But, when it comes to workers who happen to own businesses, keeping the fruits of “their own labors” that right becomes null and void! The presumption is, if you built or own a business, that, you are no longer a worker. But, as those who have built businesses realize, it is a 24/7, never-ending, endeavor, to build a successful business. And, if there is no one building businesses, then, there most certainly would be no need for workers! Therefore, sanctioning Government to take more and more of a person’s income, through involuntary, confiscatory means, is no different, in theory, then sanctioning a gang of thugs to break into a neighbors home, and taking off with a bunch of their property. No matter how you frame it, the end result is still theft; regardless if it is legalized or not!

Someone who is reading this post, may say, “we are not looking to tax away most of our citizenry’s money, only the “top one percent.” Surely, they can afford to pay more”! But, therein, is the most disturbing of all factors, in my opinion. After all, isn’t one percent of our population, clearly a minority? Regardless of one’s definition or belief as to what a minority is, a minority is nothing more then a smaller part, or number, of the overall population – as opposed to the majority of the population. And, so often, we hear the left, sanctimoniously, claiming to be the defenders of minorities; yet, they are more then willing to target a mere 1% of our citizenry! I could not think of a more clear-cut case of discrimination! Just because a person has a lot of money, that does not diminish their rights as citizens, or sanction legislators to, punitively, create, and apply, different laws or standards to that group of citizens. It is beyond disconcerting to hear a President of The United States, constantly, making 1% of our population a target of his administration! The President, of all people, has a constitutional mandate to execute laws, passed by Congress, equally to all citizens; not to decide who the winners and losers are; or who has made too much or too little money.

The President takes an oath to faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and to the best of their ability, “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” No majority has the right to vote away another person’s life, liberty or property. And, the minute that we give into that premise, that will be the final death-blow to our Constitution. And, thereafter, no one’s inherent rights will be protected!

This, in my humble opinion, is not really about how much money a person has; rather, it is about a person’s right to be free, and to legitimately, and honestly, earn as much money as they like, or are able, without having to be concerned if some segment of our population, and our Government, for whatever reason, is going to come after them, or falsely blame them for the very problems that these politicians, themselves, have created! Furthermore, those who enable Government to go after rich people today, may unwittingly be going after the futures of their own children, and grandchildren; unless, of course, it is their goal to see that their posterity never has a chance to achieve what past Americans, through hard work and God’s Grace, have been able to achieve.

“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.” – Thomas Jefferson

Great article and I totally agree. Anything that the government is involved in is riddled with corruption and waste. All they are doing is making the poor, poorer; the middle class, poor; and the rich, middle class. It is like “The Broken Window” written by Bastiat. Every action that the government is taking now will have unseen (or maybe seen) and dire consequences for the future of our country. The dominos are going to topple over at some point. Government is creating a huge class of needy, entitled slaves, and at some point, the only people at the top will be the dictator and his minions.

On a Christian perspective, the more enslaved to the government they make the citizenry, the more they can dictate our actions. Maybe even to the point that we cannot worship God anymore.

Thank you Jackie! I appreciate that! And, as usual, I totally agree with you! These are indeed, very disconcerting times! But, to the extent that the Federal Government controls our lives, is only a result of how much we, and our state legislatures, allow this nonsense to continue! We have it in our power to stop them. I would even argue that, we are duty-bound to stop them!

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, IT IS THEIR DUTY, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” – The Declaration of Independence

This is such a good point, Mark. “… isn’t two percent of our population, clearly a minority? Regardless of one’s definition or belief as to what a minority is, a minority is nothing more then a smaller part, or number, of the overall population; as opposed to the majority of the population. And, so often, we hear the left, sanctimoniously, claiming to be the defenders of minorities; yet, they are more then willing to target a mere 2% of our citizenry!”

They are hypocrites in so many ways. Speaking against something and then doing it themselves. Over and over. I can see how they may not realize this particular indiscretion. I do appreciate you bringing it to light. My dad (the “transgender”) firmly assured me that he thought no one should be forced to accept his lifestyle (meaning it shouldn’t be mandated to be taught in schools or legislated, etc.) but as soon as he met a doctor who couldn’t in good conscience assist him in his sex-changing endeavors, he pursued viciously and vehemently to force that doctor to appease him. When he told me this, I reminded him that he himself said that no one should be forced to do what they weren’t comfortable with. He backtracked and changed his position toward the doctor…to his credit. Still, I wish that they – and really we all – will say what we mean, mean what we say, and catch ourselves when we violate our own ideals and standards — rethink, reevaluate, and be sure of where we stand and then be firm in it.

There is, no doubt, major hypocrisy in both of these God-Forsaken Parties, and throughout our general population. It is natural, and completely fine, for people to act in their own self-interest. Individual Liberties are based around self interest. What is not fine, in my opinion, is to desire certain Individual Liberties for oneself, then, seek to strip away, and completely disregard someone else’s Liberties.

What is really disconcerting is, we have a Government, who has trained a largely uninformed population that, if you can get your respective party into the majority that, you can vote away another person’s Liberties and Property. Constitutional Protections be dammed! This Party system is really sick, and very dangerous, in my humble opinion.

In the very last paragraph, I also made the point that, the class-warfare crowd, in all of their blind ideology, “may unwittingly be going after the futures of their own children, and grandchildren.” In other words, working to strip away this generation’s economic liberties, will, without a doubt, be a huge detriment to their own posterity’s economic liberties. These people are beyond delusional; they are seriously dangerous to this country’s future!